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1. Eight arrests at GM crop protest
2. GM CROPS PROTESTER INJURED
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1. Eight arrests at GM crop protest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_1438000/1438969.stm

Eight people were arrested and one injured during a protest against Wales's only remaining GM crop trial.]  Approximately 40 protesters broke into the field and began ripping up the crop of GM fodder maize.

The protesters had ignored a large police presence and a force helicopter and jumped over barriers to get into the field in Sealand, Flintshire.

The injured man, who is not believed to have been seriously hurt, was taken by ambulance to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Farmer John Cottle - who had refused requests by 150 anti-GM campaigners to scrap the fodder maize experiment - said he was disappointed the protesters had broken into his field.

The protesters had been holding an all-day rally in the latest bid to end Wales's only GM trial.  The rally followed a meeting of the GM Free Wales Campaign group at Connah's Quay Civic Hall, which was attended by anti-GM writer George Monbiot.

The event, part of a GM 'Action Day,' was chaired by Plaid Cymru's Euro MP Jill Evans.

Professor Howard Slater, a former professor of microbiology at the University of Wales and a campaigner for crop biotechnology, said attempts to halt the Sealand trials would undermine Wales's reputation as a world-class technology centre.

But even with the petition demonstrators are to hand to Mr Cottle, it is unlikely he will bow to the demands.  Mr Cottle refused a call from Rural Affairs Minister Carwyn Jones to abandon the trials on the English border after lobbying forced trials in Pembrokeshire to be scrapped in May.

Jill Evans said: "A strong alliance is developing in Wales of groups committed to a GM-free Wales."  Separate trials at Castle Cenlas Farm in Pembrokeshire were abandoned when farmer and former MP Tony Marlow accused the government of sending misleading messages over genetically-modified food.  The organic farmers are concerned about cross-contamination but Mr Cottle remains convinced about the benefits of the trials.

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2. GM CROPS PROTESTER INJURED
Jul 14 2001
By Sinead McIntyre, PA

A man was injured today as he took part in a protest against genetically modified crops, an MEP said.  The man was thrown on to a metal gate by security officers after breaking into the field with 40 other activists at Sealand, north Wales,  Welsh MEP Jill Evans said.

Ms Evans said: 'He seemed to have damaged his pelvis or hip and was taken to hospital.  'The security officers were in the field and seemed to be employed by the company growing the crops.

'It marred a good day as the police were doing their job and everything  was going well until this.'  Ms Evans said protesters were still in the GM crop field, the only one in Wales.

Earlier, 150 protesters attended a rally addressed by Ms Evans, who is a member of the Environment and Public Health Committee of the European Parliament.  They then walked one and a half miles to the field, which is close to Chester.

Ms Evans said: 'Lots of people drove past us and gave us the thumbs up on the way. There is obviously a lot of support for getting rid of these crops.

'The farmer came out and spent a while talking to protesters and he did listen to what they had to say but he wouldn't change his mind. He thinks what he is doing is right.'

A spokesman for North Wales Police said eight protesters had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass following the demonstration at Birchenfields Farm.  He said they would be questioned at Mold police station.  The demonstration lasted two hours and was now over, he added.